Tooth sensitivity is a painful condition affecting 1 in 7 people, commonly aged 20-40 and women more often than men. The pain is transitory and usually the result of the tooth nerve cells becoming exposed to chemical or thermal stimuli through open tubules that run from the surface of the tooth through to the dentine.
Degrees of sensitivity vary, some individuals are able to put up with it while for others the problem has a deep impact on their lives, effecting oral hygiene regime and diet. Most solutions work by blocking these tubules to prevent the stimuli penetrating the surface of the tooth.